Today's News- Thursday, March 19, 2009

FOUR HURT IN RYAN TOWNSHIP CRASH

Four people were hurt in a two vehicle mishap Wednesday morning in Ryan Township. According to Frackville state police, a car operated by 70 year old Edward Petusky of Philadelphia was traveling west on Route 54, and 79 year old Jean Picciano of Mahanoy City was driving east. Petusky crossed the eastbound lane, his car striking a mailbox and a retaining wall, into the path of Picciano's auto where they collided. Petusky and his passenger were taken to St. Luke's Coaldale and Picciano and her passenger to Schuylkill Medical Center South for treatment. The crash at the intersection of 54 and state highway 1013 happened before noon.

ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES BID FOR DA

Citing her years as a county Assistant District Attorney, Christine Holman of Frackville has announced her bid to become Schuylkill County District Attorney. The Republican candidate is looking to unseat incumbent DA Jim Goodman, who is seeking a second term as the county's top law enforcement official. In a press release, Holman says she and Dale Repp, who is running for Sheriff, want to pursue drug dealers and white collar criminals.

STIMULUS MONIES COMING TO COUNTY

Federal stimulus monies will help with demolition and other projects in Schuylkill County. Through community development block grants, the funds will help to tear down blighted properties, and $185 thousand dollars will go toward storm water improvement projects in Girardville, and Cass and Reilly Townships. Four hundred thousand dollars had already been awarded to the county from the CDBG program, plus another $80-thousand in stimulus monies.

MAN FOUND DEAD IN PRISON CELL

A prisoner at the Mahanoy state prison was found dead in his cell Tuesday. The Republican Herald reports that 39 year old George Ray of Verona, Allegheny County, was found after midnight, unconscious. First aid was given to Ray, but he was pronounced dead around 1am. According to reports, an autopsy will be done to determine a cause of death and state police are investigating Ray's death.

SPRING BRUSH FIRE BURNS 20 ACRES

More than two dozen acres of land were burned in a Hegins Township brush fire Wednesday. Authorities say that the brush fire covered an area near the Camp A While campground off of Route 25. Forest firefighters and local fire companies battled the smoky fire for several hours before completely extinguishing it last evening. March to May is prime brush fire season.

Philadelphia mayor set to present budget

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is to present his budget to City Council on Thursday. Nutter previewed the budget Wednesday. It will include a temporary 19 percent increase in the property tax and a one percent increase in the city's sales tax. As a result, the mayor won't close any libraries and will keep more pools open. He also says the budget will not close community health centers or reduce recreation department programs.
The city faces a $1 billion budget deficit over the next five years.

Feds plan to seize former Pa. senator's houses

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Federal prosecutors intend to seize the substantial real estate holdings of former state Sen. Vincent Fumo following his conviction on corruption charges. According to court papers, the government plans to seize a 27-room Philadelphia mansion, a 100-acre farm outside Harrisburg, properties at the New Jersey shore and a home in Florida. The powerful Philadelphia Democrat was found guilty Monday of 137 counts of fraud, conspiracy and other charges for bilking taxpayers and a nonprofit out of $3.5 million. A forfeiture hearing is scheduled for Thursday. Co-defendant Ruth Arnao was also convicted of 45 counts related
to the nonprofit Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods. Prosecutors plan to go after her properties in Philadelphia, Florida and New Jersey.

GOP lawmakers decry gaming board travel during ban

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says he won't second-guess a decision by state gambling regulators to go to a conference in Italy. The Gaming Control Board had already bought nonrefundable tickets for the six-day gathering in Rome in September when Rendell
banned out-of-state travel. Rendell says he understands that the board had already paid for
the travel when he signed the order. But Republican state lawmakers say the trip to the conference of the International Association of Gaming Regulators reveals the "arrogance" of those who took it. Rep. Mike Vereb of Montgomery County and Sen. Jane Orie of Allegheny County say they plan to introduce legislation that would put all state travel expenses on
the Internet.

Pa. mulls possible closure of 6 historical sites

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The budget crunch is leading the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to consider closing six of 22 state-run historic sites or museums. Closures could be coming for Brandywine Battlefield in Delaware County, Bushy Run Battlefield in Westmoreland County, Conrad Weiser Homestead in Berks County, Fort Pitt Museum in Pittsburgh, Joseph Priestley House in Northumberland County and the Flagship Niagara
in Erie. In the Niagara's case, the proposal is to stop sailing it but keep it as a museum.
The visitor center at Washington Crossing in Bucks County is also being eyed, but that's for safety reasons. The building is old and leaking. The commission will hold community meetings near the affected sites for public input. No dates are set.

Judge to help sort out Pa. Dems' legal files fight

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A leading state House Democrat says he's eager to have a lawsuit filed by his caucus against its former lawyer quietly mediated. Rep. Bill DeWeese said through a spokesman Wednesday that he hopes the caucus will soon be able to focus entirely on its
legislative agenda. The Greene County lawmaker is asserting lawyer-client privilege over caucus legal files that are being requested by the House Democratic caucus. The files relate to the attorney general's investigation of alleged legislative corruption. As a result of DeWeese's privilege claim, former lawyer Bill Chadwick is refusing to give the files to Democratic Leader Todd Eachus of Luzerne County. On Wednesday, Chadwick and the House Democrats agreed to have a retired Dauphin County judge act as a special master to help resolve the dispute over the files.

Music, DVD distributor announces cuts in Ind., SC

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Direct Brands Inc. is consolidating distribution and support for its DVD and music club businesses and will close centers in Indiana and South Carolina, cutting more than 400 jobs. The New York-based company, formerly known as BMG Columbia House, said Wednesday it will close facilities in Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Ind., and Duncan, S.C., by the end of the year. Company spokeswoman Paula Batson says the cuts will involve about 170 employees in South Carolina, 152 in Indianapolis and 147 at Terre Haute. The cutbacks are expected to begin in May. Operations at the closed facilities will be consolidated at existing centers in Hanover and Mechanicsburg, Pa. Employees whose jobs are cut will be eligible to apply for open positions.

Pa. to get $4m in federal funding for seniors

WASHINGTON (AP) - More than $4 million in federal stimulus money is coming to Pennsylvania to provide meals to senior citizens. Vice President Joe Biden says the $4.4 million in funding will go to senior centers and home delivery programs that are struggling to maintain their efforts. Biden says Wednesday's announcement means older Americans will not have to choose between paying their bills and buying food. Nationwide, Biden says the government will distribute $97 million and expects to provide nearly 14 million meals across the country.

Bullet in Pa. shooting said to match trooper's gun

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Autopsy results on a Pittsburgh man shot dead by police show the fatal bullet is consistent with the gun used by a state trooper who killed an unarmed boy in 2002.
The Allegheny County medical examiner says the bullet that killed 33-year-old Nicholas Haniotakis is consistent with the gun used by Trooper Samuel Nassan III. Nassan was one of two troopers sued in the 2002 shooting death of 12-year-old Michael Ellerbe. A nonfatal bullet wound to the man's leg is consistent with a gun used by Pittsburgh Police Sgt. Terrence Donnelly. Haniotakis also had superficial gunshot wounds on his arms. Police say Haniotakis was shot after he tried to back his sport utility vehicle over police during a drunken-driving patrol.

Retired Pa. professor sentenced in child-porn case

LEWISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A 73-year-old retired Bucknell University professor has been sentenced to Pennsylvania state prison for possessing child pornography. Jack Harclerode was sentenced Wednesday by a Union County judge. The judge gave him a sentence of 13 years and nine months to 27 years and six months for 20 counts of child pornography possession. Pottsville psychologist Joseph Sheris testified at the sentencing hearing that Harclerode suffers from pedophilia, cannot be rehabilitated and is a sexually violent predator. Defense attorney Peter Campana cross-examined Sheris at length but did not call any witnesses. Harclerode is already serving a nine-month to 30-month state prison sentence for indecent sexual assault of a 10-year-old Lancaster boy. That happened at a campsite near Bloomsburg in July 2006.

Va. man pleads guilty in 1978 Pa. slaying

EASTON, Pa. (AP) - A violent sex offender charged with killing an eastern Pennsylvania woman on Halloween night in 1978 has switched his plea to guilty. Robert W. White Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder. Prosecutors say he raped and suffocated 21-year-old
Virginia Morrell, whose nude and bound body was found inside her one-room apartment in Easton. Now 51, White spent decades behind bars for violent attacks on women in Pennsylvania and Virginia. He was arrested in Roanoke, Va., last March after DNA evidence linked him to Morrell. White's plea came on the third day of his capital murder trial. Instead of facing a potential death sentence, he'll get life in prison without parole. In a statement to the judge Wednesday, Morrell's sister, Marilyn Belmonte, said, "Robert White should rot in hell."

Fmr. House GOP candidate sues DA over charges

CLEARFIELD, Pa. (AP) - A former congressional candidate claims a central Pennsylvania prosecutor wrongly filed criminal charges that allegedly derailed his candidacy. The charges against Derek Walker were filed days before the April Republican primary. Walker contends in a federal lawsuit filed Monday that Clearfield County District Attorney William Shaw wrongly approved charges after Walker confronted his ex-girlfriend and another man at her apartment in August 2007. Walker contends the publicity cost him the nomination for former U.S. Rep. John Peterson's seat. Walker pleaded guilty to lesser misdemeanors, including disorderly conduct, and was sentenced to probation. Shaw has previously denied the charges were politically motivated.

Pa. bishop refuses to meet with Catholic school

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A Roman Catholic bishop in northeastern Pennsylvania says he won't meet with officials from a Catholic university that hosted a visit by a gay-rights advocate.
Bishop Joseph Martino says Misericordia University must first heed his request to publicly show how it teaches Catholic morality on sexuality. Martino has demanded that Misericordia shut down its multicultural center because it hosted a Feb. 17 visit by author Keith Boykin. In response, Misericordia asked to meet with the bishop privately to discuss the matter. The Diocese of Scranton said in a news release Wednesday that no meeting will be held until Martino's demand is met. The diocese also referred to the event with Boykin as a "scandal."

Ex-mortgage broker won't appeal 12-year sentence

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A former mortgage broker sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for a scheme that cost customers millions has decided not to appeal his sentence. An attorney for Wesley Snyder filed paperwork in July 2008 for an appeal of the sentence. On March 5, attorney Kurt Geishauser wrote to the federal appeals court in Philadelphia that Snyder's wife Sydney told him they would not pursue the appeal. Geishauser's filing did not say why the 72-year-old Snyder changed his mind, and Geishauser has not returned calls seeking comment.
Prosecutors say Snyder operated a Ponzi scheme that caused nearly 800 homeowners and 29 investors to lose more than $29 million. Snyder is currently in the federal prison at Loretto, in Cambria County.

Alleged NE Pa. biker coke ring broken up

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - Authorities in northeastern Pennsylvania have arrested more than 20 people, including a county corrections officer, for allegedly being part of a cocaine ring
affiliated with the Outlaw biker gang. Attorney General Tom Corbett says Ronald Molnar was at the center of a drug ring that distributed narcotics worth $3.6 million in the Wilkes-Barre area. Molnar, of Wilkes-Barre, faces nine counts of delivery of cocaine and other charges. Luzerne County corrections officer John Gonda of White Haven is also charged. Corbett says the investigation started with Gonda last year and led to the arrests of 22 people. Authorities also charged Joseph Janick, the president of the Wilkes-Barre chapter of the Outlaw Motorcycle Club. They say Molnar, Gonda and others were members of the club.

Report issued in Pa. firefighter's electrocution

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Federal officials say the Scranton Fire Department's lack of guidelines for working around power lines contributed to the electrocution of a city firefighter last year.
Fifty-year-old Capt. James Robeson died on Jan. 6, 2008 while fighting a house fire that killed two residents. He was in the bucket lift of a fire truck that came too close to a live power line.
A federal report on Robeson's death says the department should have had standard operating procedures for working around power lines. It recommends that firefighters working on aerial devices stay at least 10 feet away from power lines. The report also suggests the use of warning devices that detect electrical current nearby. The report was prepared by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Pa. deer harvest up 4 percent over previous year

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania hunters bagged about 336,000 deer during the most recent hunting seasons, an increase of about 4 percent over the previous year. The Pennsylvania Game Commission said Wednesday that in many parts of the state, the antlerless deer harvest dropped in 2008-09, while the overall antlered harvest was generally on par with the previous five years. The agency is studying the effect of its split deer-hunting season.
The total for the 2007-08 seasons was about 324,000. The year before that it was about 362,000, while it was about 354,000 in 2005-06 and about 409,000 four years ago.

MONTREAL (AP) - A published report in Canada says the first ambulance sent to a ski resort where actress Natasha Richardson suffered a fall was turned away. Richardson was later rushed to a hospital, then transferred to one in New York, where she died yesterday. She was 45.

WASHINGTON (AP) - It could be a case of easy come, easy go for those big bonuses paid to executives at insurance giant AIG. The House is scheduled to vote today on a bill that would levy a 90 percent tax on the bonuses. AIG's chief says some recipients are giving the bonuses back.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Not all Republicans are critical of President Barack Obama's stimulus package and California's GOP governor will embrace it today. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joins Obama at a town hall meeting today in Los Angeles. Some governors have rejected
some of the money.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - It's spacewalk time at the international space station. Shuttle astronauts will attach the framework today for the last set of solar wings. One they're unfurled tomorrow, the station will be at full power.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - Former evangelical pastor Ted Haggard and his wife are headed to "Divorce Court." But the couple is taping an interview with the judge on how they've managed to stay together despite the minister's sex-scandal troubles.